Direct and indirect tax arrears of about Rs 4.60 lakh crore are locked up in litigations before various appellate bodies, the Government said Friday. While about Rs 57,702.12 crore is locked up in appeals with regard to indirect taxes, as far as direct taxes are concerned, it totals up to Rs 4,05,521 crore as on March 31, 2011, Minister of State for Finance S Palanimanickam said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

Steps being taken to expedite cases involving locked up revenue are as follows: seeking vacation of court orders,pursuing early hearing in matter involving significant revenue and timely follow up of pending cases before courts,filling up the post of member of Tribunal, introduction of new procedure in CESTAT to expedite the disposal of cases, subject-wise clubbing of cases for hearing," he said.